Karina B.-Colombia

I am a sustainability student because I can’t imagine anything more worthwhile than working to build a world of equity and well-being. I think there are many complimentary approaches to do this, but restructuring our economic system is fundamental. That is why this summer I will be working with two organizations, one in the Colombian Caribbean, the other in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S., whose common mission is to protect and restore nature by investing in people. I will be researching the economic empowerment of local and rural communities as a conservation strategy. My focus will be on the payment for ecosystem services given to indigenous communities of areas with high ecologic value.

Beyond academia, what do I think each of us can do to create a better Earth? Rebel against the culture of consumption. I’m still working on it myself, and loving the journey